Malnutrition causes developmental issues for life in children, says Oxfam

Malnutrition in children causes lifelong develomental issues, Oxfam's humanitarian response adviser in the enclave told Irish public broadcaster RTE on Friday. 

Chris McIntosh told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, "Malnutrition in children is a severe problem because it can cause developmental issues".

"Unlike adults, they don't have the ability to spring back from a period of undernutrition and this affects brain development and and a host of other health issues that will be with them for the rest of their lives.

"To smell food being cooked is also a total novelty these days," McIntosh added.

McIntosh also said seeing people eating food was rare and children were reduced to searching for food in bins.

Oxfam was one of more than 100 NGOs that signed a letter saying that new Israeli legislation regulating aid groups is being used to refuse their requests to bring supplies into Gaza.

McIntosh added Israel's claim that aid trucks waiting to enter Gaza do not meet security standards is false.